Dugout Discussion
7 March 2021 1218 comments
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An out-of-form Liverpool face Fulham in the second of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off on Merseyside is at 14:00 GMT.

Given that less than 72 hours separated the Reds’ Gameweek 26 clash with Chelsea and today’s game, and with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking jaded in that Thursday night defeat, a change or two to the starting XI always looked likely this afternoon.

We didn’t quite expect the full extent of the rotation, though: Klopp has made seven alterations to his line-up against the Cottagers as he attempts to avoid a sixth straight league defeat at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and Ozan Kabak (£5.0m) miss out with minor fitness issues but the other five changes are unenforced, with Klopp explaining ahead of kick-off:

Two changes we had to make because of little injuries, Bobby and Ozan.

We are in an intense period and we have an opportunity now to change some players who had more sessions in their legs. That’s the plan behind it: getting fresh legs back and trying to give Fulham a proper fight.

Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) are among the players to make way, with Curtis Jones (£4.4m), Thiago (£5.6m) and Fabinho (£5.4m) also dropping to the bench.

Diogo Jota (£6.6m) starts a league game for the first time in over three months, while Rhys Williams (£4.0m), Neco Williams (£3.8m) and Nathaniel Phillips (£4.0m) come into a much-changed and youthful defence.

There are recalls too for Naby Keita (£5.2m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.4m).

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has been spared the axe, with a half-hour breather after his early substitution against Chelsea perhaps influencing Klopp’s decision to field him from the start today.

The Fulham team news is more straightforward, with Scott Parker making only two changes from the side that started the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) is a surprise omission, with Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.3m) in for the Chelsea loanee.

The regular rotation continues at full-back, meanwhile, with Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) making way for Kenny Tete (£4.3m).

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 27 SO FAR…

Salah swerves Liverpool rotation as Klopp makes seven changes for Fulham

One of the more predictable results of the weekend saw strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United play out a goalless draw at the Hawthorns.

The Magpies were without their first-choice front three through injury and there was a predictable lack of conviction when chances fell the way of Joelinton (£5.7m), who was part of a strike duo with an ‘out of position’ Ryan Fraser (£5.6m).

For West Brom, this was a third clean sheet in four and a testament to the influence that new signing Okay Yokuslu (£4.5m) is having on the Albion back four.

A match against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 28 presents Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) with a good opportunity to build on his total of 27 points over his last four appearances.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, N. Williams, Phillips, R. Williams, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Shaqiri, Salah, Jota.

Fulham XI: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete, Cavaleiro, Lemina, Reed, Reid, Maja, Lookman.

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  1. Party time
      5 years, 1 month ago

      😆
      Liverpool 😆

    • not_astarte
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      and salah does it again.

    • ivantys
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool have successfully donated points to every team in the relegation race except SHU.

      1. not_astarte
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        lol

    • Davros
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      WHAT a result

    • Tango74
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Next home game villa

      Get your TC ready

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Ollie Watkins essential, will get the hatty he’s due!

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Brilliant win. Fulham with their second ever Anfield victory.

      Incredible run from Liverpool. Lost 3 seasons worth of games!

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Played 14 in the PL, 3 Wins, 3 Draws, 8 Losses, 12 Points.

        Points per game 0.85, if they scored at that rate for a whole season they would get just 33 and probably be relegated.

    • Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No Liverpool is a great differential.

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Get in areola juhuuuu

    • mojoindojo
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Benched Areola. Played Mendy.

    • Releasebreaks
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I gained 1 point from my transfer Salah to Pereira, this could make huge difference in end of ML

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sheff, Baggies, Toon relegated 100%

      1. Nanoelektronicar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hope the takeover comes soon enough Gaffa.

    • sandman58
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Community please help...what to do with TAA and Salah?
      If selling....who's best to get in?

    • waltzingmatildas
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jota punt did not pay off. Might keep him and lose Salah though

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, he is cheap and good enough.

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He did actually look decent

      2. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Can’t think of anything worse than double Liverpool right now

    • Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sterlingggg!!!!!

    • Royal5
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Habe Mane transplantet pubic hair to his forhead?

    • The Train Driver
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      The joke of the season, not even fun making fun of them anymore...

      1. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        True. This is just pathetic

    • Plagued by indecision
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah > Aubameyang or Son? Have Kane

    • Kellz86
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Welp, brutal

    • Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      “I’m more certain Fulham are going down than Liverpool are gonna win the league” - Jamie Carragher, 2020.

      Horrible man, horrible crap pundit.

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Tbf we all though Fulham would go down after 5 games. Incredible work done by Parker

        1. Qaiss
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          After 5 games you can’t make a judgement, just like after 5 games you can’t decide whether Liverpool would become this bad.

      2. Hulk Smash
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        But in his defence, he has just called Liverpool "mentality midgets".

        1. Qaiss
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Did he really just say that? Seriously?

          1. Hulk Smash
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Yep. Was a revision of a previous Klopp statement that they were "mentality monsters".

            1. Qaiss
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              That guy needs sacking honestly. In a time where people go on and on about racism and inequality, you can’t go round using terms like that. Horrible bloke.

              1. Hulk Smash
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                I'm not a fan of cancel culture personally.

      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Spits at families in cars - you can take the boy out of Liverpool but you can't take the Liverpool out of the boy

        1. Rainer
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          You’re some chap.

        2. Eze Really?
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Isn't generalizing where you come from a little racist? (smile)

      4. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed 100%. He is very poor. Errrr but. Errrr but Liverpoool are the best.

    • dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why are Liverpool losing so many games- not just down to loss of VVD and Gomez-but has to be reason why form fallen off cliff!

      1. Random Name
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Liverpool FC.

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Title race starting to look like Man City will win now

      3. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Must be something going on in the dressing room

      4. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Just them two?

      5. Drexl Spivey
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Where's the VAR conspiracy guy this afternoon?

      6. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Loss of VVD and Gomez has resulted in the midfield being weakened as well.

      7. Nanoelektronicar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Lack of any senseless gameplan in the final third.

    • Bunk Moreland
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ings (shu, mci) 1 point
      Salah (FUL) 2 points
      Trent (FUL ) 1 point
      Saka (bur) 1 point

      Was I wrong to expect more? 🙁

      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        nope

    • TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I’ll put this again now games over.

      With Wigan winning yesterday at home. Every team in the football league has won more points at home in 2021 than Liverpool.

      That.is.crazy

    • Chandler Bing
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah out or hold some more time?

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Out he goes. Jota is enough.

        1. TRIPOS TOPPER
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          jota?

          looked garbage today

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I’m selling in 29

      3. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        That’s the end for me

      4. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        At this stage I'm only holding because there's no one else I want (own 3 City).

        No other midfielders exactly pulling up trees at present.

      5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Definitely hold him - he is the uNdIsPuTeD kInG oF FpL* afterall

        *sell him - sell him 13 weeks ago

      6. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Think I'll do Salah to Son one week earlier than planned, despite Spurs fixture not the best. Unless we get the Everton-Villa DGW , that is

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I was thinking salah to Aubameyang this week then Bruno to son next week?

          1. Pompel
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Auba being heavily roatedc, it seems?

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Mmmm... sounds like big risk then but I need 2 midfielders who play GW29 so thought son & Aubameyang best

      7. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Sold him before this GW, so was sweating a bit. They look very poor now, and he's too expensive to keep playing him when they aren't scoring in all these home games.

    • seewhyaxe
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      i guess we need a HT for Salah replacements.

      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Son or KDB , depending on GW29 plans

    • gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1 goal from 1st 2 games. The dross continues. And we have another 0-0 match up next. Cant wait.

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

    • JOELIO8701
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Benched Areola for Mccarthy incase he was reinstated for the double. I have a horrible feeling he’s gonna come back to play v city lol. Forster injured in training or something I dunno!

      If Areola come on could be massive for me going through in the cup. The only thing better than winning fpl is winning the cup because it’s harder surely?

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Well only one person can win the cup, but only one person can win the league!

    • Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Predictions on Salah’s EO going forward?
      Less than 50% I reckon

      1. Nanoelektronicar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Salah to Son/Bale for me this week.

      2. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Dead team posterboy.

        When he finally scored in GW 36 all the dead teams will rise

    • acidicleo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      why do I and many players here have a mental block in selling salah?
      are we blinded by hauls from the distant past?

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cause he’s the top scorer

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Don't see that many options screaming out to me at the minute, if it was any other season Mo would be out

        • TRIPOS TOPPER
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          FOMO

        • JOELIO8701
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Because the can and will haul anytime and that haul is more valuable when others have sold him. It’s impossible to say if its after two blanks or 6
          But was in inevitable is he finishes among top 3 highest scorers and selling him
          Means you burn transfers getting rid and getting back. He’s also fixture proof so easiest thing is just keep the guy

      3. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Gundo master class please?

      4. mezza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Dias(c) to score the only goal in a 1-0 too much to ask?

        1. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          only if own goal